Inlet box



Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STA rss PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD D. SYMONDS AND HARRY J. 'CULLEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INLET BOX.

Application filed June 2.

This invention relates to inlet boxes and more particularly to boxes or drawers con-- stituting an inlet for chutes such, for example, as garbage chutes, laundry chutes etc, in houses, apartments, hotels, hospitals, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide an inlet box of this character which will prevent the escape of odors from .the chute into the room, which will operate as a closure, for the chute both when the inlet box is open or drawn out and when the inlet box is moved inwardly or closed.

A furtherobject is to provide an inlet box of this character havinga hinged bottom which closes the box when the latter is drawn outwardly so as to receive garbage or other articles and which swings downwardly to open position when the box is moved in- \vardly or closed so asto allow the contents of the'box to fall down the chute.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having improved means for limiting the opening.movement ofthe hex, in'iproved means for covering the box and in'iprovcd means for mounting the box whercby the primary object ofodorless, sanitary caring for garbage in chutes of this character" is effected.

lVith these and other objects in VlQW the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described. claims.

in the accon'ipanying drawings- Figure 1 a viewin vertical section illustrating our improved inlet box, mounted in a wall constitutin a part of the chute. showing the box in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view. showing the box in its open or outward position; I

Figure 3 is a View in front elevation of the box when the latter is closed;

Figure l is a fragmentary view. partly in elevation and partly in section. the section being taken on the line l4: of Figure 2.

1 re n'esents wall which constitutesa wall of a chute and also constitutes a partition wall. one face thereof constituting a partition of a room. This wall 1 has an opening 2 therein, the lower wall of the open in; being preferably inclined and covered by a plate 3.

An angular frame 1 is secured around the opening 2 adjacent the room and is preferably countersunk in the wall although of and pointed out in the 1 1927. Serial No. 196,069.

course this is immaterial. This frame 4 constitutes the flange of a casing having side walls 5 which may be of any desired height, but it is necessary, at least, that the walls be s'ufiiciently high to provide. proper accom-' modat ion and guidance for our improved box 6.

This box 6 is of general rectangular form, open at its top and having angle bars 7 secured tozits side edges adjacent its upper end; These angle bars 7 slide in recesses 8 in the walls 5 so as to guide the sliding movement of the box. A front plate 9 is secured to the box and is larger than the end of the box so that it overlaps the box and forms a neat and attractive finishing plate which bears against the front of frame 4 and provides a tight closure whenthe box is in its inward position.

The box 6 has a hinged bottom 10 and a verQ tical wall 11 extending upwardly from the hinge 10 of the bottom and insuring a tight compartment for the garbage or other articlcs when the bottom is against the box.

A hinged cover12 is locatedabove the box 6 and hingedly connected to the frame 4, as shown at 13. This top 12 has a spring, pressed beveled catch 14 on its under face adjacent its forward en d which is adapted to engage the. rear wall. of the box and limit the opening movement thereof. as shownv in Figure 2.

hen it is desired to remove the box to clean the same the operator can insert his hand inside the box, force this catch upwardly and allow the box to disengage there from. The cover 12 will then fall and close the frame to prevent any escape of odors into the room while the box is being cleaned. When the box is forced back into place the catch will automatically lift and throw the spring back into operative position.

The operation is as follows:

Figure 1 shows the box in closed position but in this position it will be noted that the cover 12 rests on top of the box. and front plate 10 lies flat against the wall of the frame within the wall and prevents any odors from entering the room. When it is desired to empty the garbage or the like the drawer or box is pulled outwardly to the position shownin Figure 2. This outward. movement of the box, due to the fact that the hinged bottom 10 engages the bottom of frame 4, will cause said bottom to swing upwardly and tightly to close the bottom of the box, at the same time the catch Ll limits the opening movement of the box and holds the box while the garbage or other articles are poured or otherwise placed therein. hen the drawer or box is pushed inwardly after it reaches a completely closed position, the bottom 10 will fall against the inclined wall or plate 3 and allow the con tents of the box to drop down the chute.

It will be noted that the bottom cannot fall until the box is completely closed. This is due to the fact that the hinge 10 is spaced from the front of the box and that the distance between this hinge and the front of the box is equal to the width of the frame 4 at the narrowest or smallest opening which is in the front portion of the wall 1. As the drawer or box is pulled out this frame or wall of the opening exerts a cam action to force the bottom of the box upwardly and retain it in this position until the box is again completely closed.

\Vhile we have illustrated what we believe to be a. preferred embodiment of our invention it is obvious that various changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing from our invention and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise details set forth but consider ourselves at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lVe claim v 1. An inlet box for chutes, including a re-' ceptacle, a hinged bottom on the receptacle, a hinged cover independent of the receptacle but adapted to close the top thereof when the latter is in normal position, and a catch on said cover limiting the outward movement of the box.

2. A device of the character described, including a frame, a box mounted to slide in the frame, said box and frame having flanged and grooved engagement guiding the sliding movement of the box, a plate on the front of the box adapted to engage the frame and form atight juncture therewith, a hinged bottom on the box adapted when the box is in normal position to fall by gravity and open the box, allowing the contents thereof to fall, said bottom being moved to closed position by engagement with the frame when the box is drawn outward, a hinged box cover on the frame, and a spring catch on said cover.

In combination with a sliding inlet box, a hinged cover adapted to close the top of the box when the box is in its inward position, and close the opening accommodating the box when the latter is drawn out of said opening.

4. In combination with a sliding inlet box, of a hinged cover adapted to close the top of the box when thebox is in its inward position, and close the opening accommodating the box when the latter is drawn out of said opening, and a. hinged bottom on the box adapted when the box is in normal position to fall by gravit and open the box, said bot tom being movet to closed position by the out ard movement of the box.

HAROLD D. SYHONDS. HARRY J. CULLEN. 

